chalaza

[kuh-ley-zuh]

noun

plural

chalazas, chalazae 

1. Zoology.,  one of the two albuminous twisted cords which fasten an egg yolk to the shell membrane.

2. Botany.,  the point of an ovule or seed where the integuments are united to the nucellus.

chalaza

/ kəˈleɪzə /

noun

1. one of a pair of spiral threads of albumen holding the yolk of a bird's egg in position

2. the basal part of a plant ovule, where the integuments and nucellus are joined

chalaza

plural

chalazae 

1. One of two spiral bands of tissue in an egg that connect the yolk to the lining membrane at either end of the shell.

2. The region of a plant ovule that is opposite the micropyle, where the integuments and nucellus are joined.

Other Word Forms

• chalazal adjective
• chalazian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chalaza¹

1695–1705; < New Latin < Greek: hail, lump

Word History and Origins

Origin of chalaza¹

C18: New Latin, from Greek: hailstone

Example Sentences

We’ll leave that up to you, but we recommend that you first eliminate the egg’s chalaza, or the stringy bit that gunks up an efficient pastry brush.

Read more on Washington Post

A pair of fibrous strands called chalazae anchor the yolk inside the egg, and Geary figured that sundering them would allow the yolk to float to the center.

Read more on New York Times

Having the ovule inverted at an early period in its development, so that the chalaza is as the apparent apex; Ð opposed to orthotropous.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

The radicular extremity points towards the micropyle, while the cotyledonary extremity is pointed towards the base of the ovule or the chalaza.

Read more on Project Gutenberg

Orthotropous ovule of Buckwheat: c, hilum and chalaza; f, orifice.

Read more on Project Gutenberg